U.S. safety regulators are investigating older Ram pickup trucks with manual transmissions over complaints the engines can be started without pressing in the clutch.
The probe covers roughly 110,000 Ram 2500 and 3500 model year 2004-2006 pickups.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says three complaints have been filed over the issue, including one fatal accident in February where a child was able to start a truck without using the clutch. The truck rolled forward, striking and killing another child.
The investigation was opened May 19. A recall has not been issued. The investigation, according to NHTSA, is a preliminary evaluation process to “assess the scope, frequency and safety-related consequences” of potentially faulty clutch interlocks.
Late last month, Ram issued a recall for its 2014 Ram 1500 4×4 pickup trucks over a transmission problem that may lead to the truck rolling away when in park. In that case, NHTSA says the transmission case may have been improperly machined which could result in the park pawl not properly engaging when the transmission is in the “Park” position.
